Pin tumbler lock and knob assembly



Oct. 4, 1955 A. G. RAYBURN PIN TUMBLER LOCK AND KNOB ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1952 HUEBNE'R 9 @EEP/L ER, WURREL HERZ/G y B), ATTOR/V/im United States Patent O PIN TUMBLER LOCK AND KNOB ASSEMBLY Alden Granville Rayburn, West Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Victor M. Carter, Van Nuys, Calif.

Application May 24, 1952, Serial No. 289,846

6 Claims. (Cl. 70--224) The invention relates to lock hardware and has particular reference to a pin tumbler lock of the type customarily mounted within the knob in such fashion that the positioning of a plurality of aligned divided pin tumblers by means of a conventional key action is employed to withdraw the latch bolt from locked position, the pin tumbler mechanism being one capable of being assembled as a unit and subsequently installed in a door knob and there properly adjusted for smooth and effective operation.

Pin tumbler locks have been employed to a large extent in recent years and have in fact almost supplanted the old style conventional locks wherever high-grade lock hardware is in demand. Pin tumbler locks, however, due to their inherent design necessitate employment of a relatively large number of parts, namely, pins and springs to actuate them which must be individually mounted in recesses or slideways so that when installed they are accurately positioned and remain so throughout the normal life of the hardware. The large number of pin tumblers permits an extremely great number of combinations which is highly advantageous in keying but this factor adds considerably to the necessity for constructing such devices with a considerable degree of precision. The pin tumblers must be arranged so that they drop or are forced from one set of apertures to another and in View of the fact that a very low tolerance must be employed in the sizing of the parts and apertures, the problem of aligning a set of apertures in the pin tumbler cylinder, for example, with corresponding apertures in the key plug at the center of the pin tumbler cylinder becomes a formidable problem especially where devices of this kind are to be produced in large production quantities without impairment to the exacting requirements of high-grade lock hardware.

Because of these exacting requirements, pin tumbler locks heretofore have been relatively high-priced and also somewhat troublesome to set and to maintain in smooth-working adjustment. Because of the fact that all of the pin tumblers must be lifted as the key is inserted in the keyway, unless the pin tumbler lock parts are accurately made and the assembly properly adjusted the key may stick in the lock once inserted or may also be difficult to insert initially, thereby causing the user considerable inconvenience.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved pin tumbler lock construction which is possessed of the inherent advantages in locks of this character and which is also capable of a much more accurate adjustment to the end that smooth Working operation may be assured.

Another object ot the invention is to provide a new and improved pin tumbler lock construction where means .are provided for adjusting the pin tumbler cylinder `in the knob and spindle attached thereto such that the ployed, thereby making it possible to readily adjust the ICC lock in working order with extreme precision to eect an exceptionally smooth operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pin tumbler lock construction wherein an adjustment is provided making possible virtually any setting to the end that six pins may be employed as readily as tive pins in a standard knob, thereby very greatly increasing the number of key combinations possible as well as materially reducing the necessity for large inventories of required parts.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved pin tumbler lock construction which by the combining of certain parts and by the simplification of adjustment considerably reduces manufacturing costs while at the same time providing a lock dependable to the degree expected of high quality lock hardware, the lock being further one which is readily adaptable to easy master keying.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination or" the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through a set of lock hardware shown installed in a conventional door wherein the set of lock hardware is provided with a pin tumbler lock on one side and a privacy lock on the other side.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial end elevational view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial end elevational view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through the pin tumbler lock construction taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 2.

The pin tumbler lock construction herein made the subject matter of the invention is one adapted to conventional cylinder lock structure. It is likewise readily adapted for installation in a cylinder lock structure of the type disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 276,- 774, tiled March 15, 1952.

The portions of the lock hardware of a type suited to the reception of the pin tumbler lock construction ernbodying the present invention are shown installed in a door 10 within which has been made a transverse opening 11 for a spindle housing identified generally by the reference character 12. The spindle housing is so con structed that it is adapted to cooperate with a latch housing 13 positioned in an opening 14 which communicates with the opening 11. The spindle housing construction embodies in the main a hollow substantially cylindrical core 15 surrounded by an inner shell 16 which is provided at `one side with a spindle hub 17. Surrounding the inner shell is an outer shell 18 secured thereto by having an edge 19 peened over. The outer shell is also provided with a spindle hub 20. The outer shell and inner shell are rotatable relative to each other so that they can secure the latch housing 13 suitably positioned in latch apertures 21 in the outer housing and 22 in the inner housing which may be made coincident for reception of the latch apercured in position on the door by use of a pair of screw sleeves and screws 26 secured in the screw sleeves. The screw sleeves and screws are secured respectively to the mounting plates 23 and 24 and extend through suitable apertures in the inner and outer shells and the core, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. An inner rosette 27 is positioned so as to cover the inner mounting plate and an outer rosette 28 covers the outer mounting plate.

For manipulating the latch bolt from the inside of the door there is provided an inside knob having a knob shank 31 which surrounds and retains a hollow spindle 32 secured to the knob shank by means of a resilient detent 33.

The hollow spindle in turn extends through the hub 20 wherein bosses 34 on the spindle hold the spindle centerably within the hub. A shoulder 35 on the spindle is adapted to lock behind the side wall of the core 20 so as to hold the spindle rotatably in position. The location of the knob shank 31 between the spindle and the hub 29 assists in holding the parts in smooth working rotatable relationship.

For locking the door in latched position from the inside there is provided a privacy latch indicated generally by the reference character 36. The privacy latch includes an outer link 37 and an inner link 38 joined together by a pin 39 so that they can move slightly one with respect to the other. The inner link 38 extends through a slot 40 in the side wall of the core 15 and is carried over to a position adjacent the opposite side wall where a right angular offset 41 located in a slot 42 in the core is adapted to move into and out of engagement with a slot 43 in an outside spindle 44 to the end that when the olfset 41 is engaged in the slot 43, the outside spindle 44 will be locked against a latch bolt releasing operation.

Also included in the privacy latch for manipulating it is a button 45 which may if preferred be made as a universal type button having a transverse nger grip 46 at the center so that, as desired, the button may be one readily adapted to either pressing in for setting the parts in operation or rotated, depending upon the particular privacy latch construction.

In the particular embodiment illustrated the button is designed to be pushed inwardly in order to set or lock the privacy latch. When the button is pressed inwardly, an inside edge 47 thereof presses against a flange 48 of a thimble 49. Depression of the thimble causes an inner sleeve portion 50 thereof to bear against a shoulder S1 of the inner link 33, causing the privacy latch as a whole to shift from right to left as viewed in Figure l. Movement from right to left causes compression of a coil spring 52 until a detent 53 falls behind an adjacent shoulder 54 of a ring 55 which is secured in the inside spindle 32. A detent spring 56 shifts the detent into position behind the shoulder where it retains the privacy latch in latched or locked position.

When the privacy latch is to be released, the knob 30 is rotated which in turn rotates the spindle 32 causing movement of the shoulder 54 out of its position of engagement with the detent 53 making it possible for the energy stored in the spring 52 to cause return of the privacy latch. The spring 52 moves against the lflange 4S of the thimhle 49 and by pushing the spindle against a washer S7 attached to the inner link 38, the privacy latch is moved from left to right until the offset 41 is out of engagement with the spindle 44. These details are also described in co-pending application Serial No. 276,774, tiled March 15, 1952.

The spindle 44 on the outside of the door is constructed similar to the spindle 32 in that it is provided with bosses 4 60 centering it rotatably within the spindle hub 17. A shoulder 61 retains the spindle interlocked with the spindle housing. It will be appreciated that the inner end of the spindle 44, namely, the portion within the spindle housing is semi-cylindrical as is also the inner end of the spindle 32 so that the edges of the semi-cylindrical portion may be adapted to be moved against an adjacent element of the latch housing for manipulation of the latch bolt in a substantially conventional fashion. An outer knob 62 is provided with a shank 63 xed in position upon the spindle 44 by means of a suitable spring-pressed detent 64.

For reception of a pin tumbler lock construction the outer knob is provided with a cap 65 at the center of which is positioned a bearing flange 66 which is part of a key-receiving plug 67.

Cooperable with the key-receiving plug 67 is a pin tumbler cylinder 70 located within the spindle 44. A longitudinally disposed boss 71 on one side of the cylinder is positioned within a slot 72 of the spindle so as to locate the cylinder non-rotatably with respect to the spindle. The plug fits rotatably within an aperture 73 in the cylinder and is provided with arconventional keyway 74 adapted for reception of a key 75.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed the boss is provided with a series of six pin tumbler recesses 76 which open at the outside face of the boss and extend into communication with the aperture 73 at the center of the cylinder. In the plug 67 is a similar set of recesses 77 with one of each of the recesses 77 in alignment with a respective recess 76.

Located on each pair of outer and inner recesses 76 and 77 are a pair of pin tumblers consisting of a driver or outer pin tumbler 78 and a driven or inner pin tumbler 79. All of the outer tumblers are of precisely uniform length whereas the inner tumblers differ in length depending upon the key which is to be used.

For moving the pin tumblers inwardly there is provided a coiled spring 8@ in each recess 76 bearing against the respective outer tumbler 78. All of the springs 78 are held or retained in proper position by the employment of a single cap 81 substantially U-shaped in cross-section, as illustrated best in Figure 6. The cap is designed to be secured to the boss by having outer and inner end elements 82 pressed into appropriate recesses in the end walls of the boss. When the key is removed, the pin tumblers 79 are adapted to bottom upon appropriate shoulders 83 at the lower or innermost ends of the corresponding recesses 77.

Although the spacing of the recesses 76 in the boss and the spaces of the recesses 77 in the plug may be initially set With a considerable degree of precision by the use of suitable jigs, it is nevertheless essential that the recesses 77 be set in precise alignment with the recesses 76 when the plug is mounted in the cylinder. This particular adjustment heretofore has been accomplished only with difficulty and when the adjustment is not sufficiently accurate, the pin tumblers will stick as they are moved in and out or else the tolerance must be so great that a sloppy t is the consequence.

To achieve a precise alignment the invention herein disclosed employs a sleeve which has a latch-operating extension 91 extending inwardly toward the door to a position where it is adapted to engage the latch mechanism in the latch housing 13. The extension 91 may be semi-cylindrical in form similar to the form of the inner ends of the spindles. The sleeve is provided with an inner wall 92 at one side of which is an offset 93 adapted to bear against the inside wall of the spindle 44. On the side of the sleeve opposite the offset there is provided a shoulder 94 adapted to bear against an inwardly extending projection 95 of the inside wall of the spindle 44 to further assist in positioning the sleeve with respect to the spindle.

As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the sleeve has an outer edge 96 which is adapted to bear against an inside face 97 of the cylinder 70. This bearing `is made use of in aligning the plug with respect to the cylinder.

For achieving the aligning referred to there is pro vided an adjusting screw 98 having self-cutting threads, the adjusting screw extending freely through a suitable aperture 99 in the wall 92. The screw is adapted to be threaded into a bore 100 in the plug 67. A coiled tension lock spring 101 is positioned between the wall 92 and an adjacent-end wall 103 of the plug.

When the pin tumbler lock is assembled, the plug is inserted in the cylinder until the bearing flange 66 bears rotatably against the cap 65, which in turn is pressed against the cylinder. The adjusting screw 98 is then inserted through the wall 92 and the spring 101 positioned over it. The screw is then inserted into the bore 100 drilled to a size to permit the self-cutting threads of the screw to be formed as the screw is drawn into place. The screw is tightened until pressure of the screw head against the wall 92 draws the outer edge 96 of the sleeve 90 into suitable relationship with the cylinder so that the recesses 77 are properly aligned with the recesses 76. By reason of providing a self-cutting thread on the screw, once the screw is properly adjusted it remains in the adjusted position because of the tight thread contact. The tension lock spring 101 is also instrumental in maintaining the adjustment undisturbed against jarring, vibration, and continued manipulation of the lock parts.

By virtue of employing an adjusting screw, an infinite variation in adjustment is possible in that the screw may be rotated virtually any small fraction of a turn in order to draw the recesses 77 into exact alignment with the recesses 76. Should occasion arise, however, for servicing the lock to replace worn pin tumblers, for example, the lock may be dismantled by removing the screw 98.

Because of the interrelationship of the parts the knob 62 cannot be removed as long as the locked parts are mounted in the door with the latch housing 13 in place. With the latch housing removed, however, the spindle 44 can be rotated relative to the knob upon depression of the detent 64 a distance sufficient to permit disengagement of the lock mechanism from the spindle by giving access to the screw 98 for further dismantling.

There has accordingly been provided a pin tumbler lock of relatively simple construction which is adapted to employ an adjusting mechanism readily fabricated from inexpensive metal but which at the same time has such a nicety of adjustment that a very precise alignment of pin tumbler recesses can be achieved, the alignment being sufficiently precise to permit the employment of pins of smaller diameter greater in number than customarily employed in a corresponding amount of space by use of conventional adjusting means heretofore employed. The construction and arrangement, moreover, is such that the structure can be contained within knobs of standard size thus obviating the necessity of providing out-sized knobs or specially constructed knobs for lock structures wherein six pin tumblers might be employed instead of tive. The arrangement described is achieved without departing from accepted pin tumbler sizes regularly used throughout the industry.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that depar tures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a door lock set having a knob and a hollow latch actuating spindle attached thereto the combination of a pin tumbler cylinder non-rotatably mounted within an outer end of the spindle having an axially disposed plug aperture therein, said cylinder having a set of pin tumbler recesses in spaced alignment at one side of the cylinder, tumblers in the respective recesses, a plug rotatably mounted in the plug aperture of the cylinder having a set of pin tumbler recesses respectively aligned with the pin tumbler recesses of the first identified set, and means for adjusting the plug relative to the cylinder comprising a member disposed about the plug and in endwise engagement with the cylinder, said member having a wall spaced from said inner end of the plug, and a variable connection between said wall and the plug adapted to shift the plug relative to the cylinder for adjusting alignment of the pin tumbler recesses.

2. In a door lock set having a knob and a hollow ylatch actuating spindle attached thereto the combination of relatively stationary means comprising a pin tumbler cylinder non-rotatably mounted within an outer end of the spindle having an axially disposed plug aperture therein, said cylinder having a set of pin tumbler recesses in spaced alignment at one side of the cylinder, tumblers in the respective recesses, a plug rotatably mounted in the plug aperture of the cylinder having a set of pin tumbler recesses respectively aligned with the pin tumbler recesses of the first identified set, and means for adjusting the plug relative to the cylinder comprising a sleeve disposed about the plug and bearing against said stationary means, said sleeve having an end wall spaced from said inner end of the plug, extensible means between the plug and said end wall, and contractible means between the end wall and the plug adapted when contracted against said extensible means to shift the plug relative to the cylinder for adjusting pin tumbler recess alignment.

3. In a door lock set having a knob and a hollow latch actuating spindle attached thereto the combination of a pin tumbler cylinder nonrotatably mounted within an outer end of the spindle having an axially disposed plug aperture therein, said cylinder having a set of pin tumbler recesses in spaced alignment at one side of the cylinder, tumblers in the respective recesses, a plug rotatably mounted in the plug aperture in the cylinder hav ing a set of pin tumbler recesses respectively aligned with the pin tumbler recesses of the first identified set, and means for adjusting the plug relative to the cylinder cornprising a bearing portion on the plug in rotatable contact with a portion of the knob, a sleeve at an inner end of the plug and bearing endwise against the cylinder, said sleeve having an end wall spaced from said inner end of the plug, a spring between the plug and said end wall, and a screw extending through the end wall into the plug adapted when tightened to shift the plug relative to the cylinder for adjusting pin tumbler recess alignment.

4. in a door lock set having a knob and a hollow latch actuating spindle attached thereto the combination of a pin tumbler cylinder non-rotatably mounted within an outer end of the spindle having an axially disposed plug aperture therein, said cylinder having a radially disposed set of pin tumbler recesses in spaced alignment at one side of the cylinder, tumblersv in the respective recesses, a plug rotatably mounted in the plug aperture of the cylinder having a set of pin tumbler recesses respectively aligned with the pin tumbler recesses of the first identified Set, and means for adjusting the plug relative to the cylinder comprising a bearing flange disposed in the knob in rotatable contact with an outer end of a central portion of the knob, a sleeve surrounding an inner end of the plug and mounted within the spindle, said sleeve having an end adjacent the plug bearing against the cylinder and an end wall spaced from said inner end of the plug, a spring between the plug and said end wall, a screw ex tending through the end wall into the plug adapted when tightened to shift the plug relative to the cylinder for adjusting alignment of the pin tumbler recesses, said plug and said bearing flange having respective portions of a key slot extending therethrough, and a latch actuating extension on the sleeve. v

5. In a door lock set having a knob, and a pin tumbler lock in the knob comprising a cylinder non-rotatably mounted in the knob and an axially disposed plug rotatably mounted in the cylinder, means for adjusting the plug and cylinder lengthwise relative to each other comprising a member disposed about the plug and in endwise engagement with the cylinder, and an endwise adjustable variable connection between the member and the plug adapted to shift the plug relative to the cylinder.

l 6. A door lock set comprising a knob, a hollow latch actuating spindle attached thereto, a pin tumbler cylinder non-rotatably mounted within an outer end of the spindle having an axially disposed plug aperture therein, and a plug rotatably mounted in the plug aperture, a cap having an open center with edges thereof rotatably engaging the outer endof the plug, said knob having a central opening, said cap having a portion in said opening and engaging with the periphery of the central opening of the knob, and means for securing the cylinder and plug in the spindle comprising a member in engagement with the circumference of the plug, said member coacting with the spindle to prevent withdrawal of the member from the spindle, an outer end of the member being in endwise engagement with the cylinder, and an endwise variable and releasable connection between the plug and the member operable to draw the plug inwardly relative to the cylinder and the member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,707,643 Segal Apr. 2, 1929 2,149,733 Hagendorn et al. Mar. 7, 1939 2,276,655 Jacobi Mar. 17, 1942 

